Social Media

Sprint Sues to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Deal

Less than a week after the U.S. Justice Department stepped in to try to prevent AT&T from buying T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel has jumped into the fray by suing both companies.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., Sprint argues that the deal would harm consumers and business customers and entrench the "duopoly" of AT&T and Verizon, which could use their heft to harm Sprint and other competitors.

"With today’s legal action, we are continuing that advocacy on behalf of consumers and competition, and expect to contribute our expertise and resources in proving that the proposed transaction is illegal," said Susan Z. Haller, vice president of litigation for Sprint, in a statement.

The DOJ's case is essentially the same. Its complaint charges that the takeover would violate antitrust laws and “would substantially lessen competition for mobile wireless telecommunications services across the United States, resulting in higher prices, poorer quality services, fewer choices and fewer innovative products for the millions of American consumers who rely on mobile wireless services in their everyday lives.”

Leigh Horner, a spokesperson for Sprint, told Mashable that the company wanted to weigh in on the Justice Department's suit. "We have an expertise in the industry," Horner says, "and we wanted to make sure we were active in the court proceeding."

Mashable
is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company. Powered by its own proprietary technology, Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture and entertainment content for its dedicated and influential audience around the globe.